ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed two agreements related to the recruitment of workers and skill verification of Pakistani employees working in the kingdom, said a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Sunday.
It said the signing ceremony of the agreements took place during the visit of Education and Vocational Training Minister Shafqat Mahmood to Saudi Arabia.
According to the FO, the agreement on the recruitment of workers will contribute to streamlining the process of exporting workforce from Pakistan to various occupations in the kingdom while protecting their due rights and providing comprehensive legal protections to Pakistani nationals employed in Saudi Arabia. This agreement will also help in resolving contractual disputes and seeking legal recourse against recruitment offices, companies or agencies for any breach.
Education Minister visited the live broadcasting school in Riyadhi
The MoU on Skill Verification will enhance the export of skilled and certified Pakistani workforce to the state.
The FO statement said providing modern skills and ensuring certification of Pakistani employees to improve their employability abroad were key areas of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s priority areas. “The certification for our skilled manpower will create opportunities for technical workers in Pakistan to obtain internationally recognized training and certification,” it added.
Saudi Arabia’s Shafqat Mahmood and Dr Ahmed Jabbar Al Yemani signed the agreements at a ceremony at the Kingdom’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Ministry of Education said in a press release. It was witnessed by senior officials of both the countries.
“This important collaboration between the two countries has far-reaching implications for enhancing employment opportunities for skilled Pakistani workers through joint certification and testing by Saudi Arabia and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) Pakistan,” the statement said. ”
“this step” [agreements] Will also protect the existing Pakistani workforce in Saudi Arabia. It is expected that as a result of the efforts of the Government of Pakistan, lakhs of Pakistani skilled workers will get gainful employment opportunities with higher earnings.”
It said that under this partnership, NAVTTC and a subsidiary of the Government of Saudi Arabia, through exchange of NOS (National Occupational Standards) and facilitating skill verification of candidates through qualifications, are eligible for the Skill Verification Program (SVP). Under testing system. Assessment (theory and practical) based on examination centers in Pakistan for candidates wishing to work in Saudi Arabia.
This will enable Pakistani skill workforce to attain authentic and internationally recognized joint certification by both Takamol and NAVTTC through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessment.
According to the press release, the Saudi ministry has introduced SVP from July 2021 to regulate its labor market. After the implementation of SVP, skill verification has become necessary for Pakistani workers who intend to get employment in Saudi Arabia.
It is important to note that the largest number of Pakistani expatriate workforce is based in Saudi Arabia, which contributes significantly to the country’s economy through foreign remittances. The press release said that most of the current Pakistani workforce in the state falls under the category of unskilled or semi-skilled labor, which means low remuneration and it negatively affects remittances.
Further, it said, in the changing landscape of labor laws and labor market dynamics abroad, a large number of Pakistani employees require skill certification as they currently face non-recognition of their qualifications, skills and certification. . This cooperation will help these workers in large numbers and will also boost national productivity and development.
Saudi Arabia is home to more than two million Pakistani expatriates and is the largest remittance source for the South Asian nation. According to Arab News, Pakistani expatriates in the state sent home $5.7 billion in July-March 2021.
Minister visited broadcasting school
Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood also visited Saudi Broadcasting School “IEN” in Riyadh. Saudi Minister of Education Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh and Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Saad bin Saud Al Faheed welcomed Mr Mahmoud to the school and briefed him about the state-of-the-art live facility set up over 15 days to combat learning loss. During the covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Mahmood lauded the IEN LIVE broadcast school system, the quality of the content and its delivery and access mechanism.
The press release said, “It was decided that both IEN Saudi Arabia and Teleschool Pakistan would incorporate and share experiences, processes and technologies to promote distance learning education to provide quality education in rural areas. ”
Published in Dawn, December 6, 2021
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